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This rubbing of the Poneglyph originally came from Abdon. He wasn't particularly interested in such ancient history, only mildly curious. Before encountering Rojen, he had handed the Poneglyph over to Nico Robin, never expecting it would end up benefiting her.
"Elder sister, let's split it in half and decipher it as fast as possible!" Robin said excitedly.
"Alright!" Lordling nodded as well.
During their time in Ohara, Lordling had not wasted her days. Besides becoming friends with Robin, she had also spent some time becoming a scholar herself. Archaeology was one of the fields she studied. What surprised the scholars of Ohara was that Lordling seemed to possess a natural talent in this area.
She learned extremely quickly and mastered knowledge with ease. As for her understanding of Poneglyphs, aside from Robin, no one else knew about it.
As time passed, the two of them uncovered astonishing information from the rubbing.
"This is a route to an island!"
The two exchanged glances, confusion appearing in their eyes.
Why would a legendary Poneglyph record the route to an island? And what did it signify?
Meanwhile, on the other side, Rojen was also attempting to train his mental power.
"As expected, it works!"
A smile appeared on his lips. Although the heart method of Mount Shu had the effect of refining essence into spirit, its efficiency was far inferior to this meditation technique. Cultivation methods focused more on self-discipline and longevity, emphasizing gradual, long-term growth rather than rapid increases in strength.
However, in terms of long-term potential, cultivation was undoubtedly more powerful.
After becoming king, Rojen found himself with no shortage of daily responsibilities. Fortunately, the overall framework had already been established, he only needed to review and approve matters.
Three days later, feeling the workload piling up, Rojen sighed helplessly.
"If I want to set sail again, I'll need to stay a bit longer."
He had no intention of remaining king for long. The major policies had already been set; as long as they were implemented properly and delegated well, managing the kingdom wouldn't be difficult. But if he wanted the kingdom to serve as a stable backing for himself, he would naturally need to invest some effort.
"Fine, I'll stay a while longer."
In this world, true powerhouses always commanded vast forces. If you wanted the World Government and the Marines to fear you, relying on individual strength alone was impossible. Even someone as powerful as Whitebeard had an enormous territory and countless pirates under his command.
The same was true for Shiki. His pirate crew was massive, and his influence was equally immense. Only with such power could one truly dominate a region.
As for Rojen, his ambitions went beyond that. Naturally, he needed to prepare early. The Barut Kingdom would be the first force under his control.
In the original story, the Straw Hat Pirates spent the first half of their journey adventuring as a small group. But after entering the New World, as the competition for the Pirate King began, their affiliated forces rapidly expanded. This was inevitable, no one could become king alone. Otherwise, they would merely be a solitary ruler.
Each day, Rojen meditated, trained his mental power, practiced Kenbunshoku Haki, and reviewed government affairs. Time passed quickly.
Meanwhile, the interpretations of the Poneglyph brought by Lordling and Robin both surprised and intrigued him.
"Coordinates of an island?"
"In the original story, it was mentioned that the location of the ultimate treasure, the island one must reach to become Pirate King, lies at the exact center of four islands. To determine the precise location of Raftel, one must gather the information from four Road Poneglyphs."
"After the story begins, three of those Poneglyphs are already in the hands of the Four Emperors or other powerful forces, while one has gone missing."
"I wonder which one this is…"
Thinking to himself, Rojen smiled faintly.
Lordling and Nico Robin did not understand the importance of this information, but he knew it perfectly well. To any pirate, this text was immensely significant; it meant taking one step closer to becoming Pirate King.
"Pirate King…"
A deep look flashed in Rojen's eyes as he memorized the contents of the page.
"The height you once reached, I will reach it, and surpass it!"
What exactly happened during the blank century between eight hundred years ago and the more distant past? Why does the World Government not want the world to know? What are they hiding?
Gol D. Roger may have uncovered the truth, but he lacked the power to change anything. He left everything at the end of the Grand Line. But Rojen wanted more than that; he wanted to surpass it. Once he learned the truth of the world, he intended to change it.
This was an era of violence, but also an age where countless heroes would rise. The Four Emperors were about to emerge. Within that group, how far would Rojen go?
And what kind of surging future awaited the seas?
Pulling back his thoughts, Rojen continued reviewing the documents before him.
With a new king on the throne, the domestic situation was still unstable, and there were many matters requiring his attention. No king was ever truly idle.
Effort and reward were always proportional.
Gradually, three months passed, and the transformation of the Barut Kingdom became obvious.
At the harbors, ships filled with foreign visitors lined the docks. Following the king's orders, all five islands had developed unique and culturally rich tourist destinations. Every day, the kingdom's revenue steadily increased, and the treasury grew more and more abundant.
The establishment of Mage Schools and guilds also made magic in the Barut Kingdom more systematic and widespread. Quietly, the nation's combat strength was rapidly increasing, it was growing, building momentum, and one day, it would surely astonish the world.
At the same time, diplomatic relations with the outside world had begun to take shape. The Barut Kingdom had joined the World Government, becoming one of its three hundred member nations, and gained the right to participate in the World Council.
The World Council, held once every four years, would take place in three months. Rojen's initial plan was to have Salo, whose strength had already advanced to Admiral-level, attend in his place, showcasing the kingdom's power and securing greater influence.
As for himself, he would move behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, the name submitted by Barut to the World Government for its king was "Akatsuki."
In a relatively short time, the Barut Kingdom had developed tremendously, changing at a rapid pace. Prosperity could now be seen everywhere.
The five islands, Crescentmoon Island, Sun Island, Star Island, Mage Island, and King's Island, had all undergone tremendous transformation. Through interaction with the outside world, the people of Barut had broadened their horizons and rapidly expanded their knowledge.
And on this day, it was time for Rojen to leave.
Inside the palace, Rojen sat upon the throne, looking down with a helpless expression.
"Your Majesty, we absolutely will not allow you to leave the kingdom on your own!"
(End Of This Chapter)
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